A Simple Soap Hardness Test

Fill the cup with 12 oz of your water. Add 10 drops of dish soap slowly to the water. Mix with your finger or shake. If a lot of suds form, then your water is low in its calcium hardness. If little to no suds form, then add another 10 drops and mix again. Keep adding 10 drops of dish soap until a significant amount of suds form.

What you need How to do it

- A 12 oz cup, such as a measuring cup, small water bottle, or a standard size mug

- Standard dish soap

Convert

10 drops = 0-1 Grains per Gallon

20 drops = 1-4 Grains per Gallon

30 drops = 4-8 Grains per Gallon

40 drops = 8-16 Grains per Gallon

50 drops = 16+ Grains per Gallon

VERY SOFT

SLIGHTLY HARD

MEDIUM HARD

HARD

VERY HARD

A Kitchen Faucet Aerator Test

Locate the aerator at the end of your faucet. This is where the water comes out. Inside, there is a small screen that traps debris before the water pours out. Remove this by unscrewing it by hand or with a set of small pliers. It is important to not scratch the aerator. Leave the aerator in the bowl of white vinegar for one full hour.

What you need How to do it

- Bowl of white vinegar

- Small pliers

Clean

Rinse and if necessary, clean the aerator before re-installing. Any mineral deposits or sediment remaining in the vinegar will give you an idea of what is clogging your system and how much. If there are deposits left over, they are likely also affecting other fixtures such as the dishwasher and toilets.

Water Heater Flush Test

Connect the garden hose to the hose outlet at the bottom of your water heater. Place the other end of the hose in the bucket. Turn on the tap at the bottom of the water heater to allow the water to flow out.

What you need How to do it

- Garden hose

- 5 gallon bucket, or other large container

Check

This is a visual water test to assess the condition of the water heater. Any sediment and minerals that your home is exposed to likely will either float on the top of the water in the bucket or sink to the bottom. The water should appear clean and clear, and free of sediment.

Toilet Flush Tank Test

Carefully lift and remove the lid of the toilet tank flush box and set aside. Look inside thoroughly for any stains or discoloration.

What you need How to do it

- Access to your toilet tank to analyze

Rust stains or rust deposits: Evident of iron in the source water or corrosion of iron pipes. Check for slimy

rust deposits, as these usually indicate presence of iron bacteria.Blue stains:

Evident of corrosion of copper pipes. This can lead to pinhole leaks and expensive repairs. Black stains:

Evident of high sulfate, sulfides, or manganese in the water. It may also be a combination of iron and sulfate, also known as

black rust. Clean and white:

Evident that plumbing is in good condition with likely no corrosion and little sediment or grit.

How to Determine Pump Flow Rates on Systems with Pressure Tanks

1. Open any hose bib of faucet until pump turns on

2. Close hose bib or faucet and let pump fill up pressure tank until it turns off.

3. Using the bucket, open faucet, collect and measure all water discharged until pump turns on.

4. When pump turns on, immediately close faucet and start timing pump cycle.

5. When pump turns off, record pump cycle time to refill pressure tank in seconds.

What you need How to do it

- Watch or clock

- 1 or 5 gallon bucket

Calculate

Divide the number of gallons collected in Step 3 above by the number of seconds in Step 5. Multiply your answer by 60.

This number is the average pumping capacity of the pump in gallons per minute (GPM).

Please Note: These tests are at-home approximations of water quality. For a comprehensive, more precise assessment of the chemistry of

your water, high quality EPA certified test kits and laboratory tests are available at

www.cleanwaterstore.com .